The Embers of Hope

Chapter 4

You thought I didn't have any friends besides Mab? You thought my existence revolved only around my studies? You thought I was an introvert, didn't you?

Well, here's the catch...

I have a lot of friends. Alam kong mali na bigyan sila ng iba-ibang lebel o posisyon sa buhay ko pero I can't help it, eh. May kaibigan ako na kakilala lang o iyong pamilyar ka sa kanila dahil nakasalamuha mo na sila sa iba-ibang paraan. May kaibigan ako na kilala ko simula pa pagkabata, which I can also considered as first friends. Kahit na magbago man ang panahon o magkahiwalay man kayo ng landas ay kaibigan pa rin ang turing mo sa kanya. I also have that friend na nandiyan lang para sa mga fun, happy, or good stuff to experience or vice versa. Mayroon ding kaibigan ng kaibigan mo or the common friends.

Dahil din sa pagiging modern natin, lalo na sa teknolohiya, nabubuo rin ang internet friends, whereas I met some, or even love. The beauty of it is that you may communicate to them without any filters or as a completely different person because they don't know you in personal and won't have an opportunity to get to know you in personal. You can always chat with them without feeling judged, even if you came from different cultures. Isn't it incredible?

Oh, plus I have a neighbor friend, a childhood friend, elementary and high school batchmates, and a mentor who always inspires and motivates me in life.

However, depending on their roles in my life, various sorts of friends coexist. Hindi naman kailangang kinakausap o kasama mo sila araw-araw. A simple 'how are you?' actually helps kasi doon mo malalaman kung sino talaga ang nakakaalala sa 'yo. And thinking that these friends continue to stay in my life, put my heart at ease. Alam kong kahit papaano ay may matatakbuhan ako in case I need someone like them.

Ang talagang meron lang ako ngayon ay si Mab, my loyal and honest best friend. We always share our darkest secrets, warm moments, hot mess experiences, and mutual support. Kahit na almost sa school lang kami palagi ay sapat na sapat na iyon sa amin. We can be nonjudgmental or brutally honest with each other, but we always make an effort to understand each other's attitude depending on the situation.

Kuya Io and Kuya Iz are my cousin friends. Like I mentioned before we arrived in the club — well, we're in the club, I nearly forgot that since I'm still so focused on my thoughts — anyhow! As I previously stated, they serve as my companion, support system, energy booster, and happy pill.

Sa mga pinsan ko naman sa father's side at sa ibang kaibigan ko na sangkot sa kanila, sila iyong mga kaibigan na adventurer na matatawag, the one that always introduces me to something new in life that pushes me out of my comfort zone before and now baka pwede ko magawa ulit. Magbago man ang lahat, makakilala man ng mga bagong tao, sila iyong mananatili sa 'yo hanggang sa huli. But... these kinds of moment rarely happen to me.

"She's really drunk. We need to go home."

Nabalik ako sa ulirat ko nang marinig ko na naman ang boses ni Kuya Io. Biruin mo 'yon? Kahit pala sa isip lang binabash, lumalabas, nagpapakita, o nagpaparamdam pa rin in reality. Wow, I must've been thinking out loud.

"See? Hindi na natin siya makausap. She's lost in—"

"Sinong nawawala?" bigla kong sabat sa usapan. Biglang lumiwanag at umayos ulit ang paningin ko. Pakiramdam ko nagising ako mula sa tulog. "Hey, Sas, sino nga iyong irereto mo sa akin?" Naglakad ako palapit sa kanila. Ramdam ko naman ang pag-alalay sa akin ng dalawa kong lalaking pinsan. Tinabig ko nga.

"Gaga ka! Ayusin mo muna sarili mo!" Hinawakan ako ni Sas sa braso at kamay. "'Tsaka tingnan mo oh, uuwi na raw kayo."

"Huh? Sinong uuwi? Walang uuwi!" Inabot ko 'yong isang bote ng alak saka ito tinungga. After that, I shouted to relieve myself. Naramdaman ko naman agad ang kamay na lumipad sa bibig ko. "Ano ba! This is a club! Huwag niyo ako patahimikin!"